New Zealand is divided into two islands, the South Island and the North Island, but of the two, the South Island is definitely more intriguing than the North Island. There are several places that one can visit in South Island and Westland Tai Poutini National Park is one of them. Established in 1960, this picturesque park begins at the tallest summits of the Southern Alps and goes all the way down to the furthermost beaches of the West coastland. The Westland Tai Poutini displays a range of geological features such as snowcapped mountains, glaciers, lakes, streams, rivers, forests, wetlands and grasslands.
The solid snowfields high above feed a wide array of glaciers that include the well known tourist attractions, the Fox Glacier and the Franz Josef Glacier. Thick rainforests can be seen in the lowlands while the beautiful lakes here are an astounding brown color made by the humus that seeps in through the ground. Endangered species of animals such as the brown Kiwi, the only left today, the crested grebe and the white Heron are found in the forests of Westland Tai Poutini. The park is recognized as a World Heritage Site as part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage area of Southwest New Zealand.
Guided walking tours on the two glaciers are offered for those who are interested on undertaking the scenic trip. Also one can explore the remains of the old gold mines that can be found along the coast. Westland Tai Poutini also provides hunting opportunities for those who wish to indulge in hunting Red Deer, Tahr and the Chamois. Hunters can even access the mountainous terrains via a helicopter. Hot springs are also found in the park, making them a much sought after place to stopover and take a soothing dip in the hot waters of these natural springs in the mountain areas.
The Westland Tai Poutini National Park has a good provision for accommodation and all necessary tourist facilities are available too. The towns of Weheka and Waiau are the two main tourist bases. Huts are available here for the convenience of the tourists visiting the hot springs. Cafés, shops, restrooms, picnic tables and other tourist facilities are made available to the travelers. You can drive to the Westland Tai Poutini National Park if you are adventurous or else you could opt for one of the hired car services and be driven to your destination.
Photo by Marilyn Whiteley provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by EcologistGreg provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Vladimir Minakov provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by trevor walker provided courtesy of Panoramio.com